The safety pin as an object dates back to 1849; it was invented in 1849 by Walter Hunt. He literally made it in three hours to pay off a $15 debt. Yes, really. He even patented it â but then sold the patent rights for $400. Safe to say he may have second-guessed that one once the thing blew up.
Whatâs wild is that Hunt didnât even think that this little hole in the coil would become a curious phenomenon more than 150 years later. But here we are.
The Best Kind of Everyday Engineering
To be honest, safety pins are an incredible functional design turn. Theyâre inexpensive, straightforward and somehow batshit useful. From fashion fixes and first aid to D.I.Y. projects and diaper duty (hello, vintage cloth diapers), theyâve weathered the test of time. And thatâs in part thanks to the sort of small design details like those in a hole in a safety pin. Itâs one of those âyou donât see it until you really see itâ type of things.
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